I have a memory that I look back on and realized juts how much of a learning experience to was for me. At the time, it was very embarrassing… but I laugh at it now. When I was in the second grade, I believed that sex was something that only big-time sinners did, one of the worst sins you could possibly commit, according to how I understood what my parents taught me. I then remember one day in school when one of my friends was joking about sex, I thought his soul was going to be in danger if I let him go any farther with his jokes so I told him what I believed. He looked at me like I was the crazy one and told me that se was something that everyone did, and he tried to teach me that sex was the only way to have babies. I told him that he was wrong because God sends you babies when your married. When I got home and told my mom about the situation, she just laughed and informed me that my classmate was actually correct in some ways. She told me that sex was something that was absolutely ok as long as you are married to the person you have sex with. I remember that I was absolutely floored by this, and it was hard for me to accept because I had believed it was something so horrible for as long as I could remember. And then I thought it was absolutely gross. But, the moral of me telling this story is just how important it is for us to educate our children about his very important subject. Not by giving the easy answer like “its just bad” and pretty much lying to our children, but giving them the full picture of how this subject is a very sacred thing, so this way our children will know how to handle it (and themselves) in future situations.

Why is sex important and what is the purpose of it? I love how a past Bishop explained it to me once, referring back to genesis where God said a man should cleave unto his wife and they become one, he said that sex is a way of connecting a husband and wife that allows their bond to grow stronger. It’s a symbol of them “becoming one” but physically, it’s also literally. This is not something to taken lightly or mocked in any way shape or form. Sexual intimacy between a husband and wife is a very sacred relationship. And something that will very much determine our happiness in family life and with life in general. It strengthens your relationship with your spouse ONLY if it is used in a sacred way.

                Why is it ok? Or maybe a better question is when is it ok? In the world, sex is ok with anyone as long as you are doing it safely, but in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint culture we tend to think that if you have slipped up in anyway shape or form, no one is going to want you. This can often lead to the idea that if someone was molested or raped, they are unclean and cannot be forgiven. While we don’t believe in the world perspective, we also know that the atonement is for all people, a way to heal and become clean.

               Now with this being said, kids now a days are taught more about not having sex, and less about having healthy relationships with other people. I have learned that the key to relationships is boundaries. We need boundaries between our friends, parents, teachers, leaders… everyone or our relationships can be very unhealthy, especially when it comes to dating and marriage. If you don’t learn how to set boundaries at an earlier age, you will definitely struggle with it when you get older. Its important to set clear boundaries with people, emotionally, physically, mentally and even spiritually. Do you spend more time with your best friend or your husband? What is and what isn’t ok to do when your dating someone. How much trust do you put into the person you are dating and when do you begin to put more into the relationship. It’s important for us all to determine what is and what isn’t ok relationship wise with the people in our lives or our relationships can get blurred and things can get very messy.